christmas – Mark Bartolo

31/03/202231/03/2022

Back on Track!

More than a year has passed since I’ve written my last post. Concerts started slowly happening again and I’ve been part of a few since last December.

In a Christmas Concert together with the Monteverdi Project, I sang Agnus Dei together with Stanley Portelli and Lisa Baldacchino , a trio by Luigi Battiferri. This was held at the Church of the Jesuits in Valletta.

The Monteverdi Project Christmas Concert (photo by Albert George Storace) [2021]

In January it was time for the Valletta Baroque Festival. In this festival I sang in Handel’s Messiah together with KorMalta at the prestigious St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta under the direction of Mro. Christian Curnyn.

Handel’s Messiah (photo by Valletta Baroque Festival) [2022]

A week later, in the same festival, I performed a Vincenzo Tozzi madrigal with an ensemble from the Monteverdi Project in a concert titled The Rediscovered Madrigals of the Mdina Archives. In the latter a number of pieces from the Mdina Cathedral archives where performed for the first time in a modern setting.

31/12/201931/12/2019

The Year 2019

The year 2019 started with Missa In Illo Tempore, where together with The Monteverdi Project and Cantar Lontano we performed this Monteverdi mass at Qrendi. In March, the yearly opera appointment was on, where this time I sang as chorus in Così Fan Tutte, directed by Jack Furness. In the same month the European Day of Early Music was celebrated with a concert with The Monteverdi Project at Żejtun.

Così Fan Tutte (photo by Christine Joan Muscat-Azzopardi)

In April I joined KorMalta for the opening number of the Malta Arts Awards 2019, while in November we performed Biber’s Requiem (in F minor) together with VIBE. The last concert of 2019 was A Night of Madrigal & Early Baroque Music where together with The Monteverdi Project we sung a selection of pieces and madrigals from this era.

A Night of Madrigal & Early Baroque Music (photo by Glen Slattery Photography)

I’ve ended the year with KorMalta where we performed the National Anthem that was broadcasted before President Dr. George Vella’s Christmas message.

The Maltese National Anthem with KorMalta

01/01/201801/10/2019

The Year 2017

Another year has wrapped up … a busy year indeed! It all started with Le Nozze Di Figaro in March across four nights. I then sang in Beethoven’s 9th symphony together with the MPO chorus and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra in May. A busy summer with rehearsals for Patience led to two performances of this operetta at the end of summer. In this production I interpreted the role of Major Murgatroyd.

In August I joined The Monteverdi Project, tutored by Mro. Marco Mencoboni, that led to A Christmas Concert with VIBE in December. In September I then sang together with Animae Gospel Choir in Cliff Zammit Stevens Annual Summer Concert ’17. Throughout the year I also sang in various celebrations with St. John’s Co-Cathedral resident choir, Coro Cathedralis.

23/12/201707/06/2020

The Monteverdi Project

Back in August we had our first masterclass with Mro. Marco Mencoboni as part of The Monteverdi Project. Monthly masterclasses were held specializing in baroque music. All this culminated in a baroque concert together with VIBE (Valletta International Baroqie Ensemble) on the 21st of December at St. Gregory’s Church, Żejtun. In this concert, presented by Teatru Manoel, a 14-piece orchestra performed together with The Monteverdi Project Vocal Ensemble under the baton of Mro. Marco Mencoboni.

Continue reading “The Monteverdi Project”

10/12/201315/09/2015

This Christmas Month

December is turning out to be the busiest month of this year! At the moment I’m rehearsing for 3 different events; a concert, a mass and a musical. The first in line is a mini-concert in Rabat (Gozo) with Animae Gospel Choir being held on the 13th of this month. Continue reading “This Christmas Month”